Triple tight metal can closure



Dec. 25, 1956 J. HENCHERT 2,775,362

TRIPLE TIGHT METAL CAN CLOS URE Filed Dec. 22, 1954 IINVIENTOR JOHN HENGHE 7'' ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,775,362 TRIPLE TIGHT METAL CAN CLOSURE John Henchert, River Forest, 111., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 22, 1954, Serial No. 476,997

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-42) The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a metal can in which .the inner friction wall on the can top is curled inwardly to provide a friction wall contact for the vertical wall surrounding a depression in the cover. When the wall of the can top is curled inwardly the raw edge of the metal is exposed to contact with the contents of the can and this limits the use of the can to the packaging of non-corrosive products.

An object of the present invention is to provide a can of the above type with a triple tight seal wherein the inner raw edge of the metal of the can top is disposed outside of the seal between the bead and the cover and free from contact by the contents of the can.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a .triple tight closure embodying the improvements.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the upper portion at one side of the can with the cover in sealed connection to the can top.

Figure 3 is a similar view but showing a slightly modified form of curled bead on the can top.

The improved friction top can includes a can body to which a ring shaped can top is double seamed. The can top is provided with a U-shaped channel spaced inwardly from the seam. The inner wall of the channel in the can top is extended and offset inwardly of the container, the upper end portion of this offset is curled outwardly and downwardly into a hollow bead wherein the raw edge of the metal is disposed on the extension of the can top. The cover has a U-shaped channel, the walls of which depend from the cover and are dimensioned and disposed so as to enter the channel on the can top and make frictional contact therewith. The cover has a central depression surrounded by a vertical wall, the outer face of which makes frictional contact with the outer surface of the bead. When the cover is attached to the can top there are three contacts between the cover and the can top. There is no exposed raw edge of metal within the closed can.

Referring more in detail to the illustrated embodiment of the invention .the improved can includes a body portion 1 to which a bottom end 2 is secured by a double seam 3 of the usual type. At the upper end of the can body is a ring shaped can top 4 which is secured to the can body by a double seam 5. The can top is provided with a U-shaped channel having an inner Wall 6 and an outer wall 7. This U-shaped channel is spaced inwardly from the double seam. The side walls of the channel are substantially parallel and the inner surfaces thereof form frictional sealing surfaces for the cover.

The inner wall 6 of the U-shlatped channel in the can top is offset inwardly at 8 and is curled outwardly at 9, thence downwardly at 10, forming a hollow head with the raw edge 11 of the metal of the can top terminating on the outside of and adjacent the offset wall 8. This head is so shaped that .the inner surface 12 thereof forms a friction wall so that the can top has three friction points of contact with the cover. One, on the inner face of the vertical wall '7; two, on the outer face of the vertical wall 6, and three, on the inner face 12 of the bead. The cover 13 is formed with a central depression having a bottom wall 14 and the depression is surrounded by a vertical wall 15. This vertical Wall is so disposed that when the cover is attached to the can top the outer face of the vertical wall 15 will engage the inner face 12 of the bead and form frictional contact therewith. The cover between the vertical wall 15 and the outer edge thereof is provided with a depending U- shaped channel providing a vertical wall 16,- the inner surface of which makes frictional contact with the outer surface of the wall 6 of the U-shaped channel in the can top. This U-shaped channel in the cover has a vertical wall 17 which is so disposed that the outer surface thereof makes, frictional contact with the inner surface of the wall 7; This provides a triple tight closure between the cover and the can top. The raw edge 11 of the metal of the bead when the can is closed lies adjacent the exterior of the offset portion 8 and it is also disposed outside of the frictional seal between the bead and the vertical wall 15 of the can top. This prevents any of the contents of the can during rough handling, or at any time, from contacting the raw edge of the metal. Therefore, the can is especially adapted for the sealing of such products as corrosive paints or any other product in which there is a corrosive ingredient.

It is well known that when a corrosive paint such as polyvinyl acetate and latex base contacts the raw edge of metal forming the can top it may cause discoloration of the paint and shortened shelf life of the sealed cans. This makes the improved can especially adapted for the packaging of corrosive products and this is accomplished without depriving the container of the three points sealing contact between the cover and the can top.

In Figure 3 of the drawings there is a slight change in the curling of the bead. In Figures 1 and 2 the head is curled in the outer portion thereof away from the wall 16, thus permitting the wall 12 of the cover to spring the bead a little to make intimate contact with the friction wall 12 and at the same time the wall 6 of the channel member will remain straight and in intimate contact with the outer face of the wall 16. This curling of the bead is not easy to be formed While retaining the wall 6 in a vertical position for frictional engagement with the wall 16 of the cover. In the form shown in Figure 3 the can top has the usual U-shaped channel and likewise the cover and, therefore, the description thereof is not thought necessary. The reference numerals used in connection with Figures 1 and 2 are applied to this Figure 3. The vertical wall 6 in this form shown in Figure 3 is offset at 8 and is curled outwardly at 9 and thence downwardly at 10. This portion 10 of the curl or head conforms to the curled portion of the cover indicated at 18 and the outer surface of the end portion 10 will make frictional contact with the upper end portion of the vertical wall 16.

In both forms of the invention the outer wall 17 of the U-shaped channel member in the cover is curved outwardly to form a strengthening bead 19 at the outer periphery of the cover. This bead, when the cover is inserted, is slightly spaced from the can top so that a pry-off instrument can be inserted beneath the bead and fulcrumed on the double seam for prying out the closure cover.

It obvious that minor changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A triple tight metal can comprising a body portion, a ring shaped top end seamed thereto, said top end having a U-shaped channel spaced inwardly from the seam and having inner and outer parallel friction walls, said inner friction wall being inset inwardly above the frictional contact portion thereof and curled outwardly and downwardly into an open bead and forming on its inner face a frictional cont-act wall, and a cover having a U-shaped channel depending therefrom, said channel being spaced inwardly from the edge of the cover and lying directly over a channel in the can top, said channel being dimensioned so that the outer walls thereof frictionally engage the friction walls of the channel in the can top end making tight seals therewith, said cover having a central depression surrounded by a vertical wall, the outer surface of which makes frictional contact with the friction wall on the inner face of the bead making a tight seal therewith and with the raw edge of the metal can top disposed outside of said last named seal.

2. A triple tight metal can comprising a body portion, a ring shaped top end seamed thereto, said top end having a U-shaped channel spaced inwardly from the seam and having inner and outer parallel friction walls, said inner friction wall being inset inwardly above the frictional contact portion thereof and curled outwardly and downwardly into an open bead and forming on its inner face a frictional contact wall, and a cover having a U-shaped channel depending therefrom, said channel being spaced inwardly from the edge of the cover and lying directly over a channel in .the can top, said channel being dimensioned so that the outer walls thereof frictionally engage the friction walls of the channel in the can top end making tight seals therewith, said cover having a central depression surrounded by a vertical wall the outer surface of which makes frictional contact with the friction wall on the inner face of the bead making a tight seal therewith and with the raw edge of the metal can top disposed outsideof said last named seal, said outerv portion of the bead on -.the can top being spaced inwardly and out of contact with the inner vertical wall 16 of the cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

